Marrieds choosing not to have kids

[PhotobearSam]

Love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have emailed it to 6 couples who don't have kids...PRICELESS

 

[Hixski]

I have emailed it to 6 couples who don't have kids...PRICELESS

I read that and thought you said you emailed it to 6 couples WHO HAVE KIDS!!!! I was thinking you are soooo bad!!! Then I read it again.

DH and I try to live our lives by that wonderful line in the the Aerosmith song.
"Life is a journey, not a destination". I'm sure someone more profound wrote that first but it escapes me at this time.

What good is life if you don't live it.

 

[Suzibrat]

Ohhh my head...what did I do last night???? Over and out.......have a good day everyone

 

[ForTheLoveofDisney]

Ohhh my head...what did I do last night???? Over and out.......have a good day everyone

Oh Suzibrat I have sooooo been there! I found a great site to help aid in the symptoms (I even saved it in my favorites ) It's called So You Wanna Cure a Hangover? Thankfully, I've not had to use it in SOME time! But maybe it can help you.

I'm up and ready to head to mass. I need to go to the grocery store but I REALLY don't feel like it. Boy, do the weekends go this fast for anyone else?

By the way, I'm sure you guys have mentioned it before (maybe when I wasn't posting so much ) but what does everyone do for a living? Do you like it or is it something that just pays the bills? Are you doing what you set out to do?

I am an admin. assistant and DH works in landscaping. It's not what I planned to do with my life but it isn't horrible and it does pay the bills. I've worked at worse places.

I think I'd really like to get into psychology but NOT as a counselor or therapist. I think I'd like to teach it or teach seminars for companies or something. Course, that does require me to go back to school which I REALLY need to do.

Anyway, have a great day. I'll stop back by later if I can.

 

[Barthy73]

My wife and I bought a new home last Fall (September). We weren't really looking, but we wanted a basement, and the house we found was perfect and had a HUGE basement.

We finished the basement over the winter and now have our own Sports Bar. There's no way any of this would be possible with kidlets and their gigantic expense!

Last night, we had a couple of friends over and drank beer, had a few drinks, and played pool until 2:30am. It's just before 11am, and I just got up!!

No way any of this would be possible with kids. These are the types of things I'm going to start telling people who think I'm missing something by not having a family.

Here are a few pics of my basement: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=27421&l=11012&id=545026282


Enjoy!

 

[maddhatir]

By the way, I'm sure you guys have mentioned it before (maybe when I wasn't posting so much ) but what does everyone do for a living? Do you like it or is it something that just pays the bills? Are you doing what you set out to do?

I work for an MRI facility--- been with the same boss for 12 years now- This is his 3rd venture I have been through with him. I just keep tagging along when he comes up with new ideas

I am just in the billing and collection department. We have gotten so big that my job has been narrowed down from billing, collections AND pmt posting to just pmt posting. We had to hire a lot more people to handle the responsibilities b/c we just opened a 2nd facility. I got to choose what I wanted to get rid of. I HATE the collection part of the job. I wanted to give up being on the phone all the time dealing with insurance companies b/c that is THE worse!- I like sitting, alone, listening to Howard Stern and my music all day long and no one bothers me. As long my $$ balances out with the bookkeepers $$ every month- I am good to go.

This is certainly NOT my idea of the perfect job. But, I am not complaining. My supervisor is SO cool. I get 3 weeks vacation, 8 sick/personal days and about 10 holidays off. AND I work from home. Can't wait for the warm weather so that I can move my "office" to the back porch!

Here are a few pics of my basement: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=27421&l=11012&id=545026282

Enjoy!

Nice! You did a great job on the basement.

Part of my basement is my office- We were lucky when we bought this house a few years ago that it had a full finished basement and the husband had built an office for himself. So I moved my stuff right in.

I would like to put a bar downstairs- I think this yard sale season I will see what treasures I can find to start the job.

Yes- I am a yard sale freak! The stuff I find is incredible! I love buying old furniture and painting/distressing it for my house and now that we moved our porch from the side of the house to the back and made it larger (18x20) I want to add more furniture out there too! Next to the screened in porch we want to add a patio for DHs grill.

DH and I are not the most ambitious people in the world- so things take us a little longer than usual We move at our own pace.

 

[HockeyKat]

Oh Suzibrat I have sooooo been there! I found a great site to help aid in the symptoms (I even saved it in my favorites ) It's called So You Wanna Cure a Hangover? Thankfully, I've not had to use it in SOME time! But maybe it can help you.

I'm up and ready to head to mass. I need to go to the grocery store but I REALLY don't feel like it. Boy, do the weekends go this fast for anyone else?

By the way, I'm sure you guys have mentioned it before (maybe when I wasn't posting so much ) but what does everyone do for a living? Do you like it or is it something that just pays the bills? Are you doing what you set out to do?

I work at a university (bet you can't guess which one ) as an admin. assistant and DH works in landscaping at the same university. It's not what I planned to do with my life but it isn't horrible and it does pay the bills. I've worked at worse places.

I think I'd really like to get into psychology but NOT as a counselor or therapist. I think I'd like to teach it or teach seminars for companies or something. Course, that does require me to go back to school which I REALLY need to do.

Anyway, have a great day. I'll stop back by later if I can.

I have been off and on this thread but mostly lurking... hope it's okay if I chime in. Mr Kat and I are definitely child-free, and both of us have absolutely no desire to have them, ever. I have never wanted children, and now that I am 32 and the "urge" hasn't surfaced, I am feeling that it never will. I can appreciate and respect others' feelings on the matter, but, just not for me.

I am reading your hangover article with MUCH interest. I wish I had seen it last week, as my Wed AM was far from a good one.

I am a software engineer for a bank. I write and support remote deposit/check processing software for both small businesses and 300 of our 1400 bank branches. It is a stressful and somewhat demanding job, but you do get good benefits (40 sick days a year, 3 weeks vacation, 10 holidays, health insurance is free), and I really like my boss and my team.

Has anyone tried their local chapter of No Kidding? I am on mine's mailing list but haven't had the courage to actually go to any of their events...

 

[zima-cheryl]

Has anyone tried their local chapter of No Kidding? I am on mine's mailing list but haven't had the courage to actually go to any of their events...

We are semi-active members of the local chapter.
Most the activities are food based - which is fine by me. I'm always up for going out to new and different restaurants. Basically we get together, eat & drink a lot, and shoot the breeze about whatever... movies, pets, gardening, work, politics (you know; adult topics!).

Unfortunately during hockey season (we hold season tix to a local AHL team) we miss more meetings than we like; but we make it to most the summer ones.

I'd say try it - what's the worst that can happen? You meet a bunch of new people and have nothing to talk about for an hour or two. Best case you meet some new folks & make a few new friends!

 

[zima-cheryl]

By the way, I'm sure you guys have mentioned it before (maybe when I wasn't posting so much ) but what does everyone do for a living? Do you like it or is it something that just pays the bills? Are you doing what you set out to do?

I do software quality assurance - my 2 college degrees are in Broadcasting & English Lit. Far from what I studied, but I do like the work.
What I don't like are the corporate politics and cheap bean counters who run everything!

Fortunatly we do have a generous paid time off bank and I like the PTO instead of vaca & sick time. I end up w/about 2 sick days & 25 days off each year (another plus for being kid free...I know some folks who get about 5 days off & burn the rest on sick kids & days that school is closed).

And my boss is pretty flexible on the telecommuting & letting me flex my hours as I need to.

 

[ForTheLoveofDisney]

My wife and I bought a new home last Fall (September). We weren't really looking, but we wanted a basement, and the house we found was perfect and had a HUGE basement.

We finished the basement over the winter and now have our own Sports Bar. There's no way any of this would be possible with kidlets and their gigantic expense!

Last night, we had a couple of friends over and drank beer, had a few drinks, and played pool until 2:30am. It's just before 11am, and I just got up!!

No way any of this would be possible with kids. These are the types of things I'm going to start telling people who think I'm missing something by not having a family.

Here are a few pics of my basement: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=27421&l=11012&id=545026282


Enjoy!

Barthy your basement looks AMAZING!! Great job! Doncha' just love sleeping in? It's one of life's little pleasures!

I am a software engineer for a bank. I write and support remote deposit/check processing software for both small businesses and 300 of our 1400 bank branches. It is a stressful and somewhat demanding job, but you do get good benefits (40 sick days a year, 3 weeks vacation, 10 holidays, health insurance is free), and I really like my boss and my team.

Has anyone tried their local chapter of No Kidding? I am on mine's mailing list but haven't had the courage to actually go to any of their events...

Did I read that right? 40 sick days a YEAR??? How awesome!! I've looked for a local chapter of No Kidding but we don't have any in the area. I suppose I could start one but I'm new to the area and we don't know that many people. I'd love to belong to one though.

I do software quality assurance - my 2 college degrees are in Broadcasting & English Lit. Far from what I studied, but I do like the work.
What I don't like are the corporate politics and cheap bean counters who run everything!

Fortunatly we do have a generous paid time off bank and I like the PTO instead of vaca & sick time. I end up w/about 2 sick days & 25 days off each year (another plus for being kid free...I know some folks who get about 5 days off & burn the rest on sick kids & days that school is closed).

And my boss is pretty flexible on the telecommuting & letting me flex my hours as I need to.

I think I'd really like the PTO as opposed to sick/vacation time.

Working for the state I get 15 vacation days a year and 15 sick days a year. I also get 13 state holidays but because I work for the university our days are different than the state's. Like, we won't get off Memorial Day or Labor Day or Columbus Day but we'll get a week off at Christmas and an optional holiday that we get to pick. I chose October 24th! for two fold reason. The main reason I chose October 24th is because it is Take Back Your Time Day!! Take Back Your Time is a grass roots effor that is challenging time poverty. Here's a little excerpt from their website:

TAKE BACK YOUR TIME is a major U.S./Canadian initiative to challenge the epidemic of overwork, over-scheduling and time famine that now threatens our health, our families and relationships, our communities and our environment.


October 24th Is Take Back Your Time Day

The other reason is because it's the day before my birthday.

The thing that I hate the most is when people act like I'm personally stealing their time or like my being absent or taking a vacation is going to bring the office/company crashing down.

 

[Step]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WC02eZeBhw

I think those of us who choose to be childfree can appreciate this one a bit more!!

LOL

 

[HockeyKat]

We are semi-active members of the local chapter.
Most the activities are food based - which is fine by me. I'm always up for going out to new and different restaurants. Basically we get together, eat & drink a lot, and shoot the breeze about whatever... movies, pets, gardening, work, politics (you know; adult topics!).

Unfortunately during hockey season (we hold season tix to a local AHL team) we miss more meetings than we like; but we make it to most the summer ones.

I'd say try it - what's the worst that can happen? You meet a bunch of new people and have nothing to talk about for an hour or two. Best case you meet some new folks & make a few new friends!

Yeah, the food-based thing is part of the problem. I have been trying pretty hard to lose weight over the past year, and life throws enough curveballs at me as it is... maybe once I get to goal weight and can add in a few more off days than the 1-2 a month I get now.

We are big hockey fans too, but are lucky enough to have an NHL team in our backyard.

Did I read that right? 40 sick days a YEAR??? How awesome!! I've looked for a local chapter of No Kidding but we don't have any in the area. I suppose I could start one but I'm new to the area and we don't know that many people. I'd love to belong to one though.

Yup, that is 40 sick days a year. I think that they basically just don't want to deal with the paperwork of short-term disability! You have to have valid reasons/approval and there are restrictions, but for example, you can take 20 days to care for a sick relative. It would also count for surgery, that kind of thing. I think if you actually took every one of them for common illnesses (cold, etc.), they might take issue with it.

 

[PhotobearSam]

There are no "No-Kidding" chapters out here...We are thinking of starting one.

I have NEVER wanted children and I knew from an early age I did not want any. DH was not sure when we met but after his brothers had kids, he was convinced that it was not for him. We are VERY good as an aunt and uncle though.

We own a motel (24 rooms and 7 suites) and chalets (16 two bedroom cottages) business on the east coast of Canada and we are closed during the winter. We just bought a lot of land across the street to build some more.

In summer, I work 12-15 hrs a day, 7 days a week for June, July, Aug and most of September. (I am the only one who works the desk) We are also open in May and October but by advance reservation only.

We get to travel in the winter. We usually leave for about 30 days in all. We also take a few long weekends and a 1 week trip a year to Ottawa to visit DH's family and our friends...It's a tough life in the summer but easier in the winter. Thank God we don't have kids because I could not work as much as I do.

DH is an assistant manager of a Movie Gallery Video store in the winter and he does both the video store and our business in the summer. He gets whatever time off he wants because they love him at his store and they know he does not NEED the job but does it for something to do.

My parents always had businesses when I was growing up but I trained as a photographer and used to take wedding photos. DH studied television broadcasting. We are in such a different occupation then we thought but it's good for us.

I love hearing what you all do. It makes people aware that childfree people are like everyone else.

 

[ForTheLoveofDisney]

Good morning everyone!

Is everyone ready to get through this Monday? I like my job ok but Monday mornings are the worst (isn't that so cliche'? ).

 

[Barthy73]

I like my job ok but Monday mornings are the worst.

Monday's suck, especially the beginning of the month. Yes I know, the month doesn't start until tomorrow, but darned financial periods mean today is the beginning of the month.

I work as a Demand Planning Manager for a manufacturing company. Sounds boring, and it is. I don't love my job, but I like it enough. If you ever visit the crafts department at Wal-Mart, you'll see a lot of my products, as we manufacture about half of the yarn and most of the thread you'll see there. My job is to try and figure out how much Wal-Mart and our other customers are going to buy, so I can tell our manufacturing team how much to make. Yes, I'm a computer nerd, but at least I won't produce any offspring who are nerds as well!

 

[ForTheLoveofDisney]

Monday's suck, especially the beginning of the month.

Morning Barthy Did you have a good day yesterday? I saw how you didn't get up till almost 11. I took a nap yesterday and then I couldn't get to sleep last night. Of course, when the alarm clock goes off I'm REALLY ready to sleep then. Oh to be independently wealthy!

 

[Barthy73]

Hey Love *laugh*

Just sent you a PM. I loved sleeping in yesterday. I really wanted a nap around 4 yesterday, but I know I wouldn't sleep last night if I did, so I forced myself to stay up and went to bed about 9:30. Alarm sucked this morning, but I have to work to pay for my toys!

 

[PoohNTuck]

Like Sam I used to play "business" when I was growing up. Now I care for babies in a neonatal intensive care unit as a nurse. Ha ha, the irony!

Just checking in to say hello to everyone... still no Disney trip on the horizon though we've been visiting around New England lately and are cruising to Panama in the fall. I wish there were more money and more time off for more trips. I don't know how people with kids do anything-- wait, no, I do, they go into debt! All of our coworkers are in serious debt and just add to it when they want something or need something. I am SO grateful we can afford what we do... I just wish we could afford more sometimes!

Happy Spring All!

 

[Suzibrat]

Good Morning Everyone,
I need to catch up what you all are up too. I'm stuck on the pics of Barthy's basement, wondering if I could live there
It's nice and sunny here today. I need it to get thru all the rain that's on it's way. I need a vaca sooo bad!
We had another flock of turkeys in the yard this morning, which means they left "turkey sculptures" everywhere. Ahhh life in the middle of nowhere.....
Have a great day everyone

 

[Barthy73]

*laugh*

Come on over, Suzi. We've got 5BR, 3BA, and it's just the two of us and the dog! It's pretty sad that my dog doesn't even get her own room. We've only got one guest room at the moment, but we'll be adding another in the future. Some people think we're crazy for having as much space as we do, but we love to entertain, and it's really none of their business.

So I've got my own personal sports bar.. what's the big deal? I can't help it if they can't host parties for 30+ people without breaking a sweat.

Wait until people see my media room/home theater when it's finished. *laugh*